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Get to Know Your Class Representatives: Charlie '73 and Andrew '03
Introducing a new feature in our alumni newsletter: Get to Know Your Class Representatives! Each issue, we’ll spotlight two of the dedicated alumni who help keep their classes connected to Vermont Academy. Active Class Reps are essential to keeping alumni connected! Through these profiles, you’ll learn more about your class representatives, their VA experiences, and what inspires them to stay involved in the Wildcat community. If you are interested in volunteering your time to your alma mater and helping to strengthen the VA alumni network, please contact Christina Klinteback (cklinteback@vermontacademy.org) in the Advancement Office.
Charlie Gunn ‘73
What was your favorite space on campus?
The entire ski network of the time. The alpine hill, the two nordic jumps and the nordic trail system.
What song instantly takes you back to your VA days?
Mississippi Queen by Mountain
If you could take one VA class again, what would you choose and why?
Man and His World. This covered a broad spectrum of topics and included some field trips. The trip to UMass, Amherst was the most memorable because it was exposure to college life. There were several places on campus where we went to listen to various discussions and lectures.
What was your favorite VA tradition?
Mountain Day
What is a hobby you have picked up since graduation?
Rock climbing! I began rock climbing in the spring of ‘74 while at the University of Denver. My roommate, a childhood friend, talked me into it. I stopped in 1981 to focus on nordic skiing. In 2005 my wife, Amy gave me a climbing rope as a present. Looking at Cannon Cliff brought back good memories and so I began climbing again. By that time there were climbing gyms popping up everywhere so I started going indoors with a friend during the cold months. And I'm still enjoying climbing today!
What is your favorite way to stay connected with classmates?
My communication with classmates has mostly been with letters. Some letters were about something interesting that another classmate was doing. Other letters were about something new on campus. But there have been some good reunions over the years. And I've had numerous get-togethers with classmates.
What might your classmates be surprised to know about you?
Most surprising to me and hence my classmates is how I ended up in my job, beginning 33 years ago. I work for a company which my father in law started in 1991 where we build and sell clay target throwing machines for trap and skeet shooting. My wife, Amy, helped him start it and I joined in two years later.
In one sentence, why have you chosen to serve as a class representative?
I became a class rep because the original class rep wanted to pass on the job. I was visiting VA at that time, around 1978, and it was offered to me. And I thought, "why not."
What are you looking forward to at the next reunion?
I'm looking forward to seeing classmates but also people from the classes around my time. And I look forward to seeing those who work for the school who I've been in contact with.
ANDREW ROBINSON ‘03
What was your favorite space on campus?
The bench atop the berm between Alumni Field and the day students’ parking lot. It was an ideal spot for hanging out at the end of the school day, after dinner, or on Sundays. The vantage point was perfect for hollering at (and roping in!) friends cruising the Long Walk. More importantly, it was a convenient location for boarding and day students to connect, hang out, and get to know one another better.
What song instantly takes you back to your VA days?
Well, when the “Michael” movie came out earlier this year, I immediately thought back to my VA days, and more specifically, about Will Lord ‘02 and Taylor Brose ‘02. Those guys flawlessly replicated Michael Jackson’s iconic moves in school dances in Shep while everyone watched spellbound. They may have worn 80s apparel, too! I didn’t really appreciate the hits from Off the Wall, Thriller, or Bad albums until I got to VA, but ever since then, I’ve thought of Will and Taylor when I hear them.
If you could take one VA class again, what would you choose and why?
That’s a tough one; many were special. I’ll go with 11th grade US History with Mr. Graham. Since he was the prototypical, cool but respected, fresh out-of-college teacher and coach, he helped make the material more fun and interesting. The material itself was, by nature, influential. In particular, I recall reading “A People’s History of the United States” by Howard Zinn, which really changed the way I thought about history. It would be fun to revisit those topics and lessons - ideally with Coach Graham!
What was your favorite VA tradition and why?
Easy - Winter Carnival. There’s nothing like it! Where else can you compete and be silly with your whole school for four straight days and enjoy the very best of winter in Vermont? It was never the exact same experience but a few anchor traditions stand out vividly in my mind - broomball, figure skating, the team sled event (both building and racing it!), tandem cross country ski, the dance in Shep. I loved it, every year, 9th through 12th.
What is a hobby you have picked up since graduation?
I will say that I have become a fairly dedicated and proficient breakfast chef. I make breakfast (waffles, pancakes, omelettes, muffins, etc.) for my kids every morning. Not something I pursued at VA. Does pouring batter into the waffle makers at Sunday brunch in Shep count? That was the extent of it for me back then.
What is your favorite way to stay connected with classmates?
I like that we text every so often when we think of something special to remember or rally around, or when we pass through territory where we can catch up with old friends. I’ll admit that I’m not the best at staying in touch, but it's reassuring when I do connect with classmates out of the blue. Just grabbing coffee or a beer with them on a work trip through their city is a blessing. VA friends are reliable that way.
What might your classmates be surprised to know about you?
This is hard. I think in most ways, my pursuits have played out in a consistent and predictable way. Here’s something: Since I work in education, I’ve had the chance to work alongside or attend conferences with several mentors from our VA days, including Dave Bonner, Amy Lanterman, and Jason Roderick. I got to work with Jon Davis ‘00 for one year, son of longtime VA math teacher Mary Davis. Keeping in touch and seeing high school friends feels ordinary, but hanging out with your former teachers for work is not!
In one sentence, why have you chosen to serve as a class representative?
It’s fun to reach out to everyone in advance of major events and causes related to the school, for catching up purposes and for bonding over VA!
What is one word of advice you would offer to new graduates?
Be adventurous, but don’t neglect a return trip to VA. As someone who lives 400+ miles away, it’s been easy to avoid the trek to Saxtons River. But, on the few occasions when I have made it up there, it’s been reinvigorating, magical even. It’s cheezy, but I think of the James Earl Jones monologue in Field of Dreams when he says "The memories will be so thick, they'll have to brush them away from their faces." That’s what being back on campus feels like to me!
What are you looking forward to at the next reunion?
We had a great turnout for our 20th. But, many classmates in that age and stage of life couldn’t break free from work or families to get up for it. That said, I heard countless comments immediately afterwards and in the years since demonstrating how much people are prioritizing the 25th. You can feel the excitement build in the emails and texts, and it will only get better as we approach 2028.
Vermont Academy is a coed college preparatory boarding and day school in southern Vermont, serving grades 9-12 plus a postgraduate year.
